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The film may not go down in history in quite the same way as Carson’s book, not least because no comparable environmental movement will be allowed in China. Nor was it the first time that eyes had been opened here. Still, Chai’s film has informed and energized the debate, asking “questions that were on everybody’s mind but had been suppressed,” said Xiao Qiang, an adjunct professor at the University of California at Berkeley and founder of the China Digital Times Web site. Yet by exposing some of the vested interests behind the smog, the film probably put important noses out of joint; its viral reception also may have shocked and frightened the party hierarchy.

Residents across the Hunter are concerned about the implications of the sale of the 2000square kilometre Petroleum Exploration Licence 458 to energy company AJ Lucas. In 2012 Fullerton Cove residents fought off an attempt by the licence’s former holder, Dart Energy, to access gas reserves under the licence, which extends from Lake Macquarie to Hawks Nest.

A partnership between Emerald Agricultural College and Glencore is helping develop Queensland’s next generation of farmers. Five students have been awarded scholarships of $10,000 each towards a future in the industry, with each student due to complete their studies in 2016.

AN anti-coal mining group has questioned the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise's motives in helping promote a family walk at the New Acland Mine this weekend. Stop Brisbane Coal Trains spokesman John Gordon said TSBE's promotion of the event was suspect and urged people to avoid the walk

For many years now, State and Federal Governments have been promising some kind of national cooperative plan to address air pollution. Last year Environment Ministers agreed to “work towards” establishing a National Clean Air Agreement by 1 July 2016. They have now released a discussion paper which asks for feedback on what should be included in the Agreement.

Last March a fire at nearby Hazelwood coal mine burned for 45 days, sending thick smoke into that severely affected air quality. This is not the first time the Yallourn mine has been affected by fire. In February last year a grass fire burnt parts of the mine which were also not in use.

On Friday Roberts and Premier Mike Baird killed off exploration in metropolitan Sydney following a buy-back from resources company Dart Energy. The 1,890 square km exploration area stretched from Bundeena, to Sydney Harbour, Rooty Hill, Palm Beach and Gosford and was granted by the former ALP government in 2008. “We’ve reduced the total area of NSW covered by PELs or PEL applications from almost 50 per cent under Labor to just 15 per cent,” Roberts said.

"The question is will NSW have a planned and managed phase-out strategy for coal, or will we wait for a chaotic collapse of the industry?" said Mr Buckingham. The Greens want coal mining royalties lifted by 2 per cent, and mining royalties by 1 per cent, to divert $250 million a year to transition coal mining communities away from coal.

In the lead up to the New South Wales State Election, Lock the Gate Alliance is seeking assurance and action from all political parties that the unfinished business of mining reform in this state will be addressed.

“The clear and sharp message to both the Government and the Opposition at this election is if you hurt mining, you hurt the Hunter,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said. Over the next three weeks, electorate specific advertising will appear in local newspapers across the region, targeting electorates such as Newcastle, Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens and Upper Hunter.

MINING in the Hunter Valley could leave a legacy of more than 10,000 hectares of land consumed as ‘‘final voids’’, or giant holes left by mines, prompting a push for the state government to investigate their cumulative impacts on the region’s water table and agriculture.

Two senior Planning department officials met counterparts from Yancoal Australia on February 9, 2012, weeks after the Planning Assessment Commission had rejected plans for its Ashton South East Open Cut expansion near the town of Camberwell, according to a document obtained by resident Deidre Olofsson under freedom of information laws.

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission approved the 10mn t/yr run-of-mine project in the Gunnedah basin in early February. Hunt is unlikely to make a decision on Watermark until after the NSW state election on 28 March. Approval of Watermark has becoming increasingly politically sensitive, with the state approval meeting with strong community and environmental opposition. Hunt is part of a Liberal federal government. The Liberals currently hold power in NSW but have recently lost state elections in Victoria and Queensland as voter support has swung strongly in favour of the opposition Labor party.

BULGA Village could be rendered uninhabitable and require relocation due to the impacts of the Mount Thorley-Warkworth mine extension, the Planning Assessment Commission has warned. The dire forecast is outlined in the commission’s preliminary report on the project, which has recommended it be approved.

Chai Jing's Under the Dome. A documentary investigation into China's smog. Chai explains the what, where, and why of air pollution, and the effects it has had on her own life, and the life of her new born daughter.

The Opposition Leader, Luke Foley, has told the Hunter it needs to secure a post-coal future as Labor campaigns to make election inroads into a region suffering high unemployment. "We can't put all our eggs in the basket of coal," Mr Foley told the Hunter Business Chamber. "Coal will continue to be a very important export earner